Radiation Budget Instrument Trading Card

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) uses two types of instruments to study sunlight, heat, and total radiation: scanner instruments and non-scanner instruments

A scanner instrument moves by sweeping back and forth across the satellite's path as it flies. The ERBE scanning instrument contains three detectors (total, longwave, and shortwave). The detectors normally operate in a cross-track mode, scanning from above the horizon, across the Earth, and up through space to the instrument's internal blackbody.

A non-scanner instrument collects data from a wide, fixed viewpoint. The ERBE instrument contains five detectors, four operating in an Earth staring mode and one used for solar calibration measurements. The four Earth staring detectors measure total and shortwave radiation.

• View the ERBE Quicktime movie illustrating how the ERBE instruments collect data!
  (see Notes on how to view the ERBE Quicktime Movie).